>>Craig,
>>
>>What's the one... I'm going up to the store."
>>
>>Best,
>>
>>DD
>
>Oh...going to the store is another one:
>
>"I'm going to the A&P"
>
>They never say "the Pathmark", "the ShopRite", etc. "the" is only used when referring to A&P. In the south, "the" is used when referring to Piggly-Wiggly, but not with other chains.
In our town in New Jersey, it was "I'm going to the ACME" even though there were many other grocery stores in the area. And it was pronounced "AC-A-ME".